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750ml
Bottle:
$84.94
$87.60
12 bottles:
$83.24
Beautiful amber colour. Complex nose with notes of dried fruits and prune. Round attack with fatness releasing the...
750ml
Bottle:
$34.94
$36.00
12 bottles:
$34.24
Intense nose; very fruity aromas, banana and pear predominating, evolving to floral aromas, notes of white blossom...
750ml
Bottle:
$143.94
12 bottles:
$141.06
Deep orange colour, slightly amber with brown tints. Nose of toasty wood and hazelnut complemented by stone fruit...
750ml
Bottle:
$111.94
12 bottles:
$109.70
Deep orange colour, slightly amber with brown tints. Nose of toasty wood and hazelnut complemented by stone fruit...
750ml
Bottle:
$52.94
$55.20
12 bottles:
$52.44
Vibrant -yellow-gold in color, this full-bodied blend of Ugni Blanc and Baco Blanc resounds with a rich butterscotch...
750ml
Bottle:
$9.94
12 bottles:
$8.94
Notes of ripe plums, cherry jam and tobacco characterize the bouquet of this pure varietal Primitivo from the Apulia...
750ml
Bottle:
$119.88
12 bottles:
$117.48
A blend of brandies aged five to ten years, Domaine Boingnères Reserve Speciale is made from Folle Blanche, Ugni...
750ml
Bottle:
$49.94
$51.60
12 bottles:
$48.94
Aromas are of nuts, unsalted butter, distant scents of palm oil, very old oak and spice. The palate entry is...
750ml
Bottle:
$39.94
$42.00
12 bottles:
$39.14
Pellehaut Armagnacs have a firm texture, especially in their youth. High acidity gives Pellehaut Armagnacs the...
750ml
Bottle:
$26.41
$27.80
Light, nuanced and soft, this dark gold brandy breathes a bright, fresh aroma of fresh apple. The flavors are more...
750ml
Bottle:
$130.80
12 bottles:
$128.18
Armagnac Ice Wine Primitivo
Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.
Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.
Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.
As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.
Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.